SWAN View fighter Kaelee Mallard has captured the Muay Thai national flyweight title via a unanimous points decision on Saturday night.
The 19-year-old took the Australian title from South Australian Rachel Kavanagh in what Mallard described as a “close and tough fight.”
“I was surprised and happy when I won,” she said.
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In front of almost 1000 people at Craigie Leisure Centre, Mallard said she felt plenty of support from the home crowd that included her mother, sister, aunties and friends.
“It’s probably the loudest crowd I’ve ever fought in front of, mainly because my friends are pretty rowdy,” she said.
Celebrating proved as sweet as the victory, with Mallard admitting she went straight for a cappuccino cheesecake – bought by her Aunty – as a reward after her strict pre-fight diet had deprived her of sugar.
“There were heaps of people congratulating me, getting photos,” Mallard said .
“My whole family smothered me. They were super proud.”
Murray McKechnie, who owns the gym where Mallard trains and is one of her mentors, said his charge had worked incredibly hard and had taken on a talented fighter.
“It was a tough fight, Kavanagh was very skilful,” McKechnie said.
“We’re over the moon.”
He is already looking ahead at potential future fights for Mallard.
We’re looking at a title defence in November,” McKechnie said.
“We’d like to get someone over from the eastern states, someone who can really challenge her.”